Dell Vostro A90 User manual

PP39S

Vostro™ | A90

Setup and

Quick Reference Guide

This guide provides a features overview, specifications, and quick setup, software, and

troubleshooting information for your computer. For more information about your operating

system, devices, and technologies, see the Dell Technology Guide at support.dell.com.

book.book Page 1 Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:02 AM

Notes, Notices, and Cautions

NOTE:

A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your computer.

NOTICE:

A NOTICE indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem.

CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death.

Macrovision Product Notice

This product incorporates copyright protection technology that is protected by method claims of certain U.S. patents and other intellectual

property rights owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights owners. Use of this copyright protection technology must be authorized by

Macrovision Corporation, and is intended for home and other limited viewing uses only unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision Corporation.

Reverse engineering or disassembly is prohibited.

_________________

Information in this document is subject to change without notice.

Reproduction of these materials in any manner whatsoever without the written permission of Dell Inc. is strictly forbidden.

Trademarks used in this text: Dell, the DELL logo, Vostro, Wi-Fi Catcher, DellConnect, are trademarks of Dell Inc.; Bluetooth is a registered trademark

owned by Bluetooth SIG, Inc., and is used by Dell under license; Intel, Pentium, Core, and Celeron are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation in

the U.S. and other countries; Microsoft, Windows,Windows Vista, and the Windows Vista start button logo are either trademarks or registered

trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

Other trademarks and trade names may be used in this document to refer to either the entities claiming the marks and names or their products.

Dell Inc. disclaims any proprietary interest in trademarks and trade names other than its own.

August 2008 P/N C242J Rev. A00

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Contents

About Your Computer. . . . . . . . 5

Front View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Right View. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Left View . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Battery Removal . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Quick Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Connecting to the Internet . . . . . . 16

Setting Up Your Internet

Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Transferring Information to

a New Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Troubleshooting Tips . . . . . . . 31

Using the Hardware

Troubleshooter . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Power Problems . . . . . . . . . . 32

Memory Problems . . . . . . . . . 33

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Contents

Lockups and Software Problems. . 33

Dell Technical Update Service . . . 35

Dell Support Utility . . . . . . . . . 35

Dell Diagnostics . . . . . . . . . . 36

Reinstalling Software . . . . . . . 39

Drivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Identifying Drivers . . . . . . . . . 39

Reinstalling Drivers and

Utilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Restoring Your Operating System . . 41

Using Microsoft® Windows®

System Restore . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Using the Operating System

Media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43

Finding Information . . . . . . . . 45

Getting Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

Obtaining Assistance. . . . . . . . . 49

Technical Support and

Customer Service . . . . . . . . . . 50

Online Services . . . . . . . . . . . 50

AutoTech Service . . . . . . . . . . 51

Automated Order-Status

Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51

Problems With Your Order . . . . . . 52

Product Information . . . . . . . . . 52

Before You Call . . . . . . . . . . . . 52

Contacting Dell . . . . . . . . . . . . 54

Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

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About Your Computer

Front View

1 power light 2 battery light

3 camera activity light 4 camera

5 display 6 touch pad

7 integrated single

analog microphone

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About Your Computer

CAMERA ACTIVITY LIGHT —Indicates when

the camera is on or off.

CAMERA —Built-in camera for video capture,

conferencing, and chat.

DISPLAY —For more information on the display,

see Dell Technology Guide.

TOUCH PAD —Provides the functionality of a

mouse.

Power light – Turns on when you turn on

the computer.

The light operates as follows:

On AC adapter -

•

Solid white:

–

The computer is on.

–

The computer is off or in hibernate

mode with less than 90 per cent

battery charge and the battery is

charging.

•

Flashing white: The computer is in

standby mode.

•

Off: The computer is off or in

hibernate mode and the battery is

adequately charged.

On battery -

•

Solid white: The computer is on.

•

Flashing white: The computer is in

standby mode.

•

Off: The computer is off or in

hibernate mode.

Battery status light – Blinks amber to

indicate that the battery charge is low.

Connect to an AC adapter to charge the

battery.

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About Your Computer

INTEGRATED SINGLE ANALOG

MICROPHONE —Used for chatting and voice

recording.

Right View

NETWORK CONNECTOR (RJ-45)

KEYBOARD —For more information on the

keyboard, see Dell Technology Guide. Wireless and

volume control keys are also located on the

keyboard.

1 network connector 2 keyboard

3 VGA connector 4 USB connector

654

5 air vents 6 audio-in/microphone

connector

7 audio out/headphone

connector

Connects the computer to a

network. The two lights next to

the connector indicate status

and activity for wired network

connections.

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About Your Computer

USING WIRELESS —To turn on/off wireless,

press the wireless key combination (<Fn><2>) on

the keyboard. A confirmation of your selection

appears on the screen. This key allows you to

quickly turn all of your wireless radios (Bluetooth

and WiFi) off, such as when you are asked to

disable all wireless radios on an airplane flight.

Pressing <Fn><2> one time turns all your radios off

and pressing the key combination again returns

your wireless radios to their respective states they

were in before you pressed the key the first time.

VGA CONNECTOR

USB CONNECTOR

Press <Fn><2> to turn on/off

your wireless devices

Press <Fn><3> to view details

of your battery status, battery

health, and to get battery tips

Press <Fn><4> to mute the

sound

Press <Fn><5> to turn down

the volume

Press <Fn><6> to turn up the

volume

Connects video devices, such

as a monitor.

Connects USB devices, such

as a mouse, keyboard, or

printer.

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About Your Computer

AIR VENTS —The computer creates airflow

through the vents, which prevents the computer

from overheating.

CAUTION: Do not block, push objects into,

or allow dust to accumulate in the air vents.

Do not store your Dell™ computer in a low-

airflow environment, such as a closed

briefcase, while it is running. Restricting the

airflow can damage the computer or cause

a fire.

AUDIO CONNECTORS

Left View

Attach headphones to the connector

Attach a microphone to the connector

1 3-in-1 media card

reader slot

2 USB connectors (2)

3 AC adapter

connector

4 security cable slot

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About Your Computer

3-IN-1 MEDIA CARD READER —Provides a

fast and convenient way to view and share digital

photos, music, videos, and documents stored on the

following digital memory cards:

•Secure digital (SD) memory card

•Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC) card

•Multi Media card (MMC)

•Memory Stick

NOTE: Your computer ships with a plastic

blank installed in the media card slot. Blanks

protect unused slots from dust and other

particles. Save the blank for use when no

media card is installed in the slot. Blanks

from other computers may not fit your

computer.

USB CONNECTORS

AC ADAPTER CONNECTOR —Attaches an AC

adapter to the computer. The AC adapter converts

AC power to the DC power required by the

computer. You can connect the AC adapter with

your computer turned on or off.

CAUTION: The AC adapter works with

electrical outlets worldwide. However,

power connectors and power strips vary

among countries. Using an incompatible

cable or improperly connecting the cable to

the power strip or electrical outlet may

cause fire or equipment damage.

NOTICE: When you disconnect the AC adapter

cable from the computer, grasp the connector,

not the cable itself, and pull firmly, but gently to

help prevent damage to the cable.

NOTE: Plug the power cord and the adapter

firmly in, and ensure that the light is on.

SECURITY CABLE SLOT —Lets you attach a

commercially available antitheft device to the

computer.

Connect USB devices, such as

a mouse, keyboard, or printer.

book.book Page 10 Tuesday, August 26, 2008 11:02 AM

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